The History of Centre and Clinton Co, 1883, says: "...Daniel
Yothers removed from York Co., to Centre Co. and settled in Boggs
township upon Snow Shoe turnpike, where William Smoyer lives.
There he followed the pursuits of farming and blacksmithing until
his death .... Of his seven children, two are living. Daniel in
Indiana and Benjamin in Illinois. John, another son, settled in
Boggs, and died in Huston on the old Flick farm in 1877, age 74
(sic)."
For the last 15 years we've compiled information and watched for
a breakthrough that would justify a major article on Daniel. In
Dec. 1989 the late Richard J. Yothers Jr, historian and author
of the Mennonite Yothers family, shared his research qith us on
this line. Over the intervening years, several descendants have
added their information. It was, however, a letter written by
one of Daniel's grandaughters in 1900 and recently received at
the YNL which tipped the scales to publish. Eliza (Yothers ) Baumgardner,
Manistee, Mich - wrote on 9/29/1900 to her grandaughter Lulu Hood
in Waterloo, Ind.-
"My father's mother, Mrs. Daniel Yothers, was Rebecca Mortorff,
daughter of Christian (sic- Conrad) Mortorff and wife Margaret
Dietch. Grandfather Yothers name was John and his wife was Wilhelmina
Bloomashine (Blumenshine?)..."
At a single swoop, we are provided not only with a maiden name
for Daniel's wife Rebecca, but also the reported names for another
generation back on each side! With that as the backdrop, we'll
try to give a full outline on Daniel's family and what became
of them, an analysis of his origins, as well as speculations on
Yother families appearing in York county records as well as some
assessment of early ship records.

CHILDREN OF DANIEL AND REBECCA
Daniel (c1774-10/28/1853) and Rebecca (3/11/1775-7/11/1849) had
six sons and one daughter. The oldest son Joseph Yothers (8/6/1797-7/6/1871
) married Elizabeth Reiter. He was a miller and moved to Clearfield
Co., Pa. A grandson, Richard J., is sketched in the Biographical
and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria County, where it reports that
: "Joseph Yothers removed to Karthaus township, Clearfield
county, at about the time of Peter Carthous, for whom the township
was named. He was a miller by trade, and ran a mill for Mr. Carthous
for a number of years, but finally purchased a farm and lived
on it the remainder of his life."
Second son John Yothers (8/13/1799-5/6/1878) stayed in Centre
Co. His first wife Mary Williams died and he remarried Esther
(Hetty) Yerger, widow of Silas Brown Turner. John had children
by both marriages. Daughter Eliza writes: "My father's name
was John Yothers. He was born in York County, Pennsylvania, in
the year 1801. My mother's name was Mary Williams, born 1804,
died 1848. Her father's name was Joseph Williams, born in Chester
County, Pennsylvania. He came in early youth to Centre County,
was married to Jane Williams of Centre County. She was of Welsh
parentage, tho' all the same name. ...My mother was 44 when she
died."
Third son Ephrim Yothers was born c1801 and died young.
The fourth child, and only daughter, Mary was born c1803 and married
William Mullhollan. She died in Virginia on 7/20/1875, according
to ggggrandaughter Margaret Beltz.
The fifth child Conrad Yothers was born c1806. He is believed
to be the "Conrad Yeathers" listed as a taxpayer in
Huston township with 20 acres in 1840, and the "Conrad Yother"
of Huntington Co., Pa in the 1850 census. His wife's name was
Mary. One of their sons, Lewis M. "Yoder" moved to California,
where he resided in San Francisco by 1910.
The sixth child, Daniel Yothers, married but appears to have been
childless. He was born about 1808 and married Elizabeth ______.
In 1830 he is shown in 1830 in Stark Co., Ohio, and on 6 Aug 1834,
took 40 Acres, in "Ohio River Survey, Township 21 N, Range
17 W, Section 23". By 1850, he and his wife were in DeKalb
Co, Indiana, after which he is recorded in multiple land transactions.
It appears that a group from York Co. (including the Hood family)
settled in Stark Co. in 1829, and then moved on to Smithfield
Twp., DeKalb Co. in 1842/3. Daniel may have been with them. When
he died in 1886, one of his heirs was Eliza Baumgardner (his niece
and source of the 1900 letter?). Members of the Anthony family
were also heirs, and it is known that not only was an Anthony
a second wife to Conrad Mortorff, but also that Rebecca's sister
Catharine married a Nicholas Anthony. Daniel and his wife are
buried in the cemetery of Barker's Chapel United Methodist Church,
located at the SW corner of CR427 and CR4. It is interesting to
see that among church members listed in 1908 were several "Mortorff"s.

Daniel Cemetery Stone Photo

Daniel Yothers Stone, Bakers Chappel Cemetery

The seventh child Jacob, born 1811, died single in 1836.
The final child, Benjamin Yothers, was born about 1812 in Axeman,
Centre Co, Pa and married at Pottsville, Schuylkill Co., Pa to
Catherine Wells. The family moved to Ashton, Lee Co., Illinois.
Benjamin died there on Jun. 16 of either 1882 or 1883. Benjamin's
widow went to Kootenau County, Idaho where she died in 1897. In
the History of North Idaho, a biographical sketch reports how
Benjamin's son Levi "had but little opportunity to attend
school, being favored only with a few months in his thirteenth
and fourteenth years. This was on account of his father being
absent fighting the battles of the nation in the Civil War, and
his son being obliged to support the family. When the father came
home he was wounded and could not work for some time, so the burden
remained on those young shoulders." Great- granddaughter
Lorraine Lauper has a copy of a letter written by Levi in April
1915, that offers some thought provoking points about the history
and relationships of the family. We'll analyze this in detail
later.
The family all had strong Christian beliefs, as Eliza spells out
in her letter: "Well, now I will tell you what church my
folks nearly all belonged to. The Baptist Church. My grandfathers
both were Baptists, joined in their old age. My grandmothers neither
were Baptists (or members of any church) and all my aunts and
uncles, one a Methodist, one a Lutheran, and Joseph Yothers a
Lutheran- but such good Christians. I tell you that every one
of their homes I went to had a family altar and I thank God for
such Christian homes. And my father's house the same! I have known
my father to call us up early when he went away from home (to
work) in the morning and when my mother died, I was not yet 18,
yet he said when he was away I should never neglect family prayers
with my brothers and sisters......."

DANIEL BACK THROUGH THE CENSUS
In the 1851 assessment book for Boggs Twp, Benjamin Yother is
shown as the tenant on Daniel Yothers property of 113 acres. John
Yothers is shown on his own farm of 50 acres.
From 1850 back to 1820, Daniel can be seen in the census for Boggs
Twp., Centre Co. At the time of the 1850 census, "Daniel
Yeathurs", age 76- born in Pennsylvania, was listed as living
with his son Benjamin. The 1840 census shows the "Daniel
Yeathurs" family as: 1m and 1f 60-70, 1f 50-60, and 1m 20-30
(apparently Benjamin). In 1830, the "Daniel Yother"
family includes: 1m and 1f 50-60, 1m and 2f 20-30, 2m 15-20, and
2f under 5. In 1820, the "Daniel Yeathers" family is:
1m and 1f 45 & over, 2m and 2f 16-25, 2m 10-15, and 2m under
10.
The Boggs twp, assessment for book 1818 lists Daniel Yothers as
the parent of Daniel Yothers age 10 and Jacob Yothers age 7. It
also shows him to be the owner of 60 acres, 2 cows, no horses
and "his shop burned". He was among those unable to
pay for the schooling of his children. The assessment list for
1817 lists children Conrad and Daniel (ages not given). When Boggs
township was erected in 1815, Daniel Yethers is shown as having
been a resident.
In 1813 Daniel Yother was a witness to the will of Jacob Sherck
of Spring Twp., Centre Co., Pa.
In 1810, "Danl Yothers" appears in the census for Springs
Twp., Centre Co., with the following family: 1m and 1f 45 &
over, 2m and 1f 10-16, 2m and 1f under 10. The 1810 & 1820
censuses hints at an additional daughter who did not survive.
It seems that the parents age in 1810 is one age group older than
they should be.
In 1800, we have to go back to York county, and we find only one
Yoder/Yother listed, a "Dan'l Yoder" in Warrington twp.
There we see a family with 1m and 1f 45+, 1m 16-26, 1f 10-16,
and 2m under 10. This census leads to a number of questions: The
2 males under 10 match to the youngest children of ourDaniel,
and a male 16-26 would match him, but is the age of his wife misrecorded?
How about the over 45 male and female? This census indicates the
head of the family was named Daniel Yoder....could the father
to our Daniel be also named "Daniel"? This would contradict
the Baumgardner data. Let's take a further look at the records
of York county and what they imply.
We next find Daniel Yother, "blacksmith" in the Assessment
List from 1798/9 for Adams County, Pa. This may be the last point
at which we can identify our Daniel with any certainty. Adams
County was formed out of York County in 1800.
In 1790, we find no Daniel in Warrington Twp, but we do see a
"Daniel Yetter"(male over 16) listed as a co-resident
with a Peter Posner in Monaghan Twp., York County. What other
information can we find that takes us further back?

THE LEVI YODER LETTER:
One of the potentially most exciting (and at the same time confusing)
items of information is a letter by Levi Yoder dated Apr. 1915-
contributed by his g-granddaughter Lorraine Lauper in 1990. It
states "My father Benjamin was the youngest son (of) Daniel
Yother and grandmother Elizabeth (sic). They called their name
Yoder until 1852 (sic). He was born in Center County, Penn 1807
July 15 and died in Ashton, Illinois June 16, 1883 as it is on
the tombstone in Ashton. My mother was born in Doffins (Dauphin)
County Penn in 1809 and died 6 April 1895. They were married by
a minister by the name of McGlaughlin at Pottsville Penn. My father
had 6 brothers and 1 sister. Their names were Daniel, John, Jacob,
Joseph, Conrad, Ephrim and Mary who married a man by the name
of Mulholland.. My father's father came from Amsterdam Holland.
He had 2 brothers. One stayed in Holland and the other, whose
name was Frank came to Penn with him his name was Daniel. Frank
afterward went to Kentucky. One of his sons is in Placer Co. near
El Dorado this state (California). Lewis Yoder who we know in
San Francisco is the son of Conrad."
Over several generations, family "traditions" often
become confused and gather inaccuracies. The Eliza letter, for
example, misstates the first name of Rebecca's father. Let's analyze
Levi's letter in detail. We know that his grandmother was named
Rebecca (not Elizabeth- although his uncle Daniel did have a wife
named Elizabeth). According to public record, this family DID
NOT use the spelling "Yoder" before 1852, conflicting
with Levi's claim. Census records for Benjamin bring into question
1807 as a birth year. Did grandfather Daniel come "from Amsterdam
Holland"? The 1850 census lists him as having been born in
Pennsylvania. Most ships bringing Swiss-Germans into Philadelphia
did sail from Holland, so a family story citing a departure from
Holland is not illogical...but in all the Yoder/ Yothers lines
there is no indication that any branch resided in the Netherlands.
The story of "three brothers" is a common one in many
family histories....But where is the brother "Frank"
who was in Pa and then later went on to Kentucky? He appears in
no census or other Kentucky or Pennsylvania records which have
come to light. How about the reported son of Frank who lived in
Placer County, California? There is a Yoder there from at least
1885 to 1920. His name was John Franklin Yoder, a gold miner,
who died 2/21/1921. From 1900 onward he is listed in the indexes
for "Iowa Hill" as a single miner. The 1900 census indicates
he was born in Missouri in Dec. 1834, and reports that both his
parents were born in South Carolina. The "Placer County Republican"
reported on 10/28/1885 that J.F. Yoder sold a half interest in
the Alta Quartz Mine for $2,000. From 1887 into the early 1900s
he was active in the local Masonic Lodge, serving as an officer.
The "Daily Alta California", San Francisco, Ca., October
3, 1853 reports that a "J Y Yoter" arrived October 2,
1853 on the "SS Brother Jonathan " coming from San Juan
del Sur, Nicaragua. Could this "J.Y." have been "J.F."?
Perhaps.
How about the Kentucky reference? In the Civil War Certificate
of Disability for Discharge of Enoch E. Yoder of California, it
shows he was a Corporal in Capt. Albert Brown's Co L, 2nd Rgmt
US Cav, and had enlisted in Santa Cruz, Ca on 11 Sep 1862, and
also in the 3rd Rgmt of Arty enlisting at San Francisco, 23 Sep
1861, to serve three years. It shows him to have been born about
1830 in Fulton Co., Ky. When he filed a pension application in
1888, he is listed as a resident of Iowa City, Placer County.
Could "Enoch" have been an older brother of "John
Franklin", or perhaps the same person? The age of both of
these men make it seem more likely they would have been grandsons
of a brother of our Daniel b 1775, rather than sons.
What known Yoders were in Missouri in 1834? For one, Adolphus
Yoder, a grandson of Conrad Yoder of North Carolina. Interstingly
enough, there is a story of Conrad Yoder having a brother in Pennsylvania
who he visited before going south. Conrad would have been of a
generation older than our Centre Co., Daniel. There is, interestingly,
a Conrad among the children of Daniel and Rebecca Mortorff. However,
Rebecca was the daughter of a man named Conrad, and that is the
likely source of the name for her son. The spelling "Yother"
was the way the name appeared on Conrad Yoder of North Carolina's
1762 deed for 200 acres of land from Henry Weidner and the spelling
also appears to have been adopted by his youngest son, Adam.
Another early Kentucky connection was Capt Jacob Yoder (OH113)
of the Oley line, but he had only daughters. The Martin Yoter
in New Madrid Co, Mo by 1830 may have been his nephew (and we
know little about Martin's family). There were also a Henry &
Conrad Yater/Yeater/Yoter from present day West Virginia who in
the 1790s were living in Kentucky? They seem siblings of Catherine
Yoter who married Joshua Younger in Hampshire Co. Va./WV. Conrad
Yeater moved on in to Mo. Fairly good records on the Yater/Yeater
family reveal no "John Franklin" in this line.

Land warranted to Leonhard Ox 21 Apr 1758 was conveyed by deed
dated 18 Apr 1763 to John Yoder. This parcel was 119 acres and
114 perches and named "Yoderland". On 7 May 1767 an
additional warrent was issued to him in Reading Twp, York County
for a 100 acre parcel named "Yoder addition" and shown
as 83 acres 140 perches. On 24 Jun 1772, John patented both parcels.
By indenture dated 4 Jul 1772 "John Yoder of Oley Twp., Berks"
sold both parcels to "Daniel Yoder of Reading Twp., York
Co" for £65. The Oley reference is very significant
and will be discussed in more detail later.
The tax list of Reading Twp. for 1779 shows "Daniel Yoder"
200 acres with 1 horse & 3 cattle. Daniel is shown through
1780 with 200 acres. From 1781 to 1783 Daniel is shown with 212
acres. In 1783, when the Johannes born 1762 turns 21, he appears
in the tax records, without any land. Daniel is shown that year
with 7 people in residence, and John is listed singlely. On 17
Nov 1784, Daniel Yoder "yeoman" sold his two parcels....one
to John Yother "laborer of the other" (and we presume
his elder son) and one to a "Henry Nell".

Signature from John Yother Will
John Yother of Reading Township wrote a will on 29 Feb 1788, which
was probated 21 Mar 1888. He named as his executors Edward Hunt
and Jacob Kintzer. He left his estate to be divided among his
two children, Elizabeth and Jacob, and left legacies to his wife
Esther and his father Daniel Yother. A guardian document gives
the ages of the children as being 2 for Elizabeth and 1 year,
1 month for Jacob. (Lower Bermudian Church records show Elisabeth
"Jotter" b. __ May 1786 to Johannes and Esther with
Caspar Schimpf as sponsor).
This all supports the assumption that John Yother was the son
of the above Daniel Jodder, who appears in the tax lists. The
"Inventory and Paiments of the Goods and Chattels of John
Yother of Reading Township" records the distribution "by
will" of a Red Cow (valued at £3) a bed, and "puter"
to "Danyel Yother Sen." This does not necessarily mean
he had a son named Daniel, but would imply at a minimum a younger
Daniel Yother in the area. The family group above shows a Daniel
born in 1763, but he seems 10 years too old to be the Daniel of
Centre County. Also on the inventory is the payment of £1
to "Cathy Yother" (the sister in the above records?).
Other names on the inventory settlement include Asper, Caibel,
Hunt, Overholser, Cronister, and (perhaps significantly) "XXXX
Mortorff" (first name crossed out)! The rarity of this name
would seem to imply a connection with our Centre Co., Daniel.
According to Gene Mortorff, Conrad Mortorff (who arrived in Philadelphia
on the Ship Union in 1773) went to Lower Bermudian Church during
his indenture and for a short while afterwards when living in
Dover PA.
However, the reference to John Yoder as of Oley, makes us look
for a possible Oley Valley Yoder link. There are two John Yoder
candidates. One might be the John Yoder OH11 (c1726-by 1785).
His son Martin died in Mt. Joy Twp., York Co. in 1798 (see YNL32).
The more likely choice is John Yoder OH1 (1700-1779) who did have
a son named Daniel (OH14). Until now, we've assumed that OH14
was the Daniel who married Anna Kauffman and who appears in Union
Township, Berks County and died in 1800. That speculation was
based on a reference to him being connected with Oley Township
and the relatively early dates of his appearance in the records.
This new land record makes that assumption worth relooking. Could
the Reading Twp Daniel have been OH14, buying the property in
1772 from his father or brother? Perhaps. In the 1779 will of
John Yoder (OH1) he gives £1 each to sons John, Daniel,
and Peter, "each of them considerably received of me in my
lifetime". He also gives £5 each to two grandaughters
by his daughter Maria and her husband Col. John Lesher. After
providing for his widow, the balance of the estate is divided
into three parts. One part each to grandchildren by son John,
son Peter, and deceased son Samuel. No mention is made of any
children of Daniel.

EARLY SHIP LISTS CLUES?
There is a Daniel Joder shown on the passenger list for the ship
"Hero" (from Rotterdam, last from Cowes, England) which
arrived in Philadelphia on Oct 27, 1764. Unless there is something
wrong with the 1759 birth record for the first Daniel and Catharina,
this cannot be our Bermudian Church/Reading Township Jodder/Yotter.
There are, however, surnames of fellow passengers which tie to
the data we have to date. For example a "Nicholas Anthony"...
Conrad Mortorff's second wife was an Elizabeth Anthony, a Nicholas
Anthony (obviously of a later generation) married one of his daughters,and
Anthonys are heirs to Daniel Yothers of DeKalb Co., In. Also on
the ship is also a Jacob Hess (see first sponsor for children
of Daniel and Catherine).
But what has happened to our "John Yothers and Wilhelmina
Bloomenshine"? We couldn't find any Bloomenshien (or similar
spelling) in the 1790 Pa. census. We don't find a matching John
Yothers in the tax records we've come accross. Looking at the
published ships lists, we find Bloomenshien or a variation thereof
on the ship "Albany" in 1749, "Brothers" in
1750, and the "Richard and Mary" in 1754. Looking at
the names of fellow passengers, the only thing which raises an
eyebrow is on the "Albany". This ship contained 285
people from "Erbach and Wirtemberg" and had come from
Rotterdam, last from Cowes. The oaths of allegiance were made
at the Philadelphia Courthouse on Sep. 2, 1749. It shows a "Johann
Henrich Blumenschein" on the ship. But it also shows "Hans
Petter Jotter" and "Johanis Jotter". Other names
of interest are Kabel/Cabel (see inventory) and a Johannes Schimpf
(see the sponsor for Elizabeth Jotter) and a Gustavus Schlosser
(A Mortorff son married a Schlosser).
The study of this line leaves us with many questions. Is the John
Yother/Wilhelmina Blomenshine story correct? If so, where are
they? Is Daniel instead perhaps the son of Daniel Jodder of the
Upper Bermudian Church records? Is our Daniel connected in any
way to the Oley Valley Yoders? Do the ship records discussed give
us any meaningful hints. Where is the reported brother "Frank"?
And where does the Placer County, California Yoder come from?
More mysteries remain to be uncovered. Will one of our readers
find a missing clue?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks to: Kay Gabel, Richard H. Yoder, Loraine Lauper, Robert
A. Yothers, M. Beltz, Carroll Baumgardner, Helen V. Yoder, and
the late Richard J. Yothers Jr., Gene Mortorff, Bruce Hall, and
Bob Balmain for the Placer County data.
************************************************************THE FARM ALONG COFFEE RUNby Ruth F. Baker

(Photo of log cabin)

The house that is pictured here is located in Mifflin Co., Pa.
It is in Brown Twp. in the heart of Kishacoquillas Valley also
known as "Big Valley". It is located about 5 miles south
of Reedsville, Pa. Take Rte 655 to Coffee Run Rd. Turn right onto
Coffee Run and the farm is about 1/2 mile on the right.

The house was built sometime between 1780 and 1794. I do not
know who built it. John Yoder (YR25) purchased 350 acres on Apr.19,
1794, He, along with his wife Anna____, moved there from Lancaster
Co., Pa. John was the son of Christian Yoder (YR2). John sold
186 acres to his son Jacob (YR253) who lived there til his death
on Apr.17,1836. His son Solomon (YR2539) lived there also until
he died at the age of 31 of a sore finger. His son Samuel K. (YR25393)
lived there until 1860 when he sold the farm to Simon Yoder (prob.
YR2689).

The house has a large spring that flows from under the large
log house. The present owners, James and Mary Reed, told me that
a couple years ago there was a team from Penn State in State College
which came to check out the spring. They did not know how deep
it might be or where it came from. They were not sure if it might
lead into an underground cave. On investigation it was found to
go to an underground stream which originates in Stone Mountain.

(second photo)

The siding was removed by the Reeds and exposed the beautiful
logs, which are in great shape. The interior of the house is very
beautiful, with big log beams that run the length of the house
on the ceiling of the first floor. The Reeds have also exposed
the logs in one of the upstairs bedrooms. (contributed by Ruth
Yoder Baker, 316 Oak Tree Rd, Manheim, Pa 17545 g-g-daughter of
Samuel K. Yoder)
************************************************************

NEW DATA GIVES CONRAD MARRIAGE DATE
Thanks to Ray Yount for the following Rowan County, NC marriage
record: "Conrad Yutter and Katharina Huffman, June 20, 1775"
************************************************************
The Yoder Newsletter- Founded 1983 by
Ben F Yoder (1913-1992); Chris Yoder & Rachel Kreider
FROM THE EDITORS
Chris Yoder, Editor, Battle Creek, MI; John W. Yoder, Circulation
Manager, Middlebury, IN; Rachel Kreider, Senior Contributing
Editor, Goshen, IN; Esther E. Yoder, Mail Manager, Goshen, IN;
Donald Kauffman, YNL Homepage Webmaster, Edmonton, Alberta,
Canada. Other Contributors: Richard H. Yoder, Bechtelsville, PA;
Hubert A. Yoder, Charlotte, NC; Dorothy Yoder Coffman, Malvern,
PA; Dr. Don Yoder, Devon, PA; Neal D. Wilfong, Cleveland, NC.
************************************************************
SEND YNL CORRESPONDENCE:
- FOR CIRCULATION ISSUES ONLY such as new or renewed
subscriptions, changes of address, orders for back issues to:
Yoder
Newsletter, P.O. Box 594, Goshen, IN 46527-0594.
- ALL OTHER CORRESPONDENCE- Dealing with ancestral
queries or contributions for future YNLs or archives (such as
reunion
notices, letters to the Editor, copies of Bible records or other
historical
information) to: Chris Yoder, 203 Lakeshire Rd., Battle Creek,
MI
49015 (or by electronic mail to "75757.3371@compuserve.com").
************************************************************
YNL PRICE INFORMATION $$$$ (Price unchanged since 1983!)
-The YNL subscription is on an annual basis-two issues for $3.
-BACK ISSUES of the YNL are $1 per issue.
-Yoder Newsletter Issues 1 Through 25 - bound 240 page volume
includes a topical index of major articles, and an "every
name index".
(Price $28 post paid). The YNL, P.O.Box 594, Goshen, IN 46527.
************************************************************
YODER DATA ON DISK PRICE RISES- As we now are dealing with
6 disks worth of information, we are forced to increase our price
for
our "Yoder Data on Disk" to $10 (postage included).
Anyone with
internet access can get the files AT NO CHARGE by file transfer
from
the Yoder Newsletter Homepage (www.yodernewsletter.org) .
************************************************************
YNL WEBMASTER LAUNCHES "MENNOBITS"
YNL Webmaster Donald Kauffman has lauched the "Mennobits"
(Mennonite Obituaries) Project. The aim is to transcribe and make
available online all obituaries published in Herald of Truth (1864-1908),
Gospel Witness(1905-1908), and Gospel Herald (1908-1998). These
magazines were official church papers of the Amish, Amish-Mennonite,
and Mennonite churches. Congregations were invited to submit local
news, including obituaries and death notices.
This project began in Oct. 1999 and is now in its second year.
It is sponsored by the Archives of the Mennonite Church at Goshen,
Indiana. With estimates of between 60 and 80 thousand obituaries
total, the project is about 25%. As of Jan. 2001, 20,000 obituaries
have been copied and placed on-line including 778 for Yoders.
The goal for this year is to complete Herald of Truth; the earliest
obituaries. If your family tree goes back into the Amish or (Swiss)
Mennonite tradition some of your ancestors will probably be included.
Check it out at: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~mennobit/
You can be a volunteer transcriber and help complete this project.
Information about volunteering is on the website. To get involved
send e-mail to Don Kauffman, Project Manager at dkauffma@telusplanet.net.
************************************************************
FILES AT THE YODER HOMEPAGE: 42 files effected in our
annual update. Look to the "ftp" directory at the Yoder
family
Homepage: www.yodernewsletter.org. New data includes: "CON-
HIST.DOC"- materials copied from the notebook Col. G. M.
Yoder
on The Conrad Yoder Family of NC.; PDF Files of wills and estates
of
Oley brothers Hans and Yost. You can download any of these files
FREE.
Many thanks to YNL Webster, Donald Kauffman!!
************************************************************
"YODERBOOKS.COM" Just opened, the official homepage
of Author James D. Yoder's books. On this site, you can find information
on his various historical, western, romance, and religious books
& order his books online. For info, see: James D. Yoder, james@yoderbooks.com,
http://www.yoderbooks.com/
************************************************************
************************************************************
Letters to the Editor
Sadly, my uncle George Yoder the Grand Slam Fishing Champion (see
YNL 32) passed away October 8, 2000, age 92. His dad, Howard J.
Yoder also of Shoemakersville, gave him a life long love of the
out of dooes with hunting and fishing. There is no telling what
father and son might have accomplished had he not been killed
in 1928 at the age of 44 in a freak car accident while returning
from a championship shooting match in Virginia. He was state live
bird champion and champion wing shot for 1923, 1924 and runner
up in 1925. He regained the title in 1926 and traveld to competitions
all over the East Coast.
Uncle George and his wife Mary celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary
in 1999. He still loved to dance, and did the polka with his son's
widow at their last wedding anniversary party. My aunt was wheelchair
bound due to numersous fractures, but Uncle George never gave
up a chance to dance. His life was not all fun. He became a butcher
in the family business after his father died. He worked for commercial
butchers cleaning pig's stomachs well into his nineties, because
none of the young people wanted to do it. He also spent many many
years baking breads and sticky buns in a kitchen he set up in
their garage. He got so many other men involved, and all the profits
went to charitable projects of "his" Rotary Club or
to the Shriner's Hospitals. If he wasn't fishing he was probably
baking - any weekend for nearly 50 years. He was quite a role
model.
-- Saranna B. Miller, Marietta, Pa
- - - - - - - - - -

Yoder Heritage Tour Of Missouri and Illinois
Fifteen west coast Yoders, all descendants of Elias Yoder (YR12a33)
and his father, Amish bishop Jonathan Yoder (YR12a3), made an
8-day tour of family and American history sites in MO. & IL.
Joel Daniels of Canby, OR, planned the tour. Travel arrangements
were made by his brother, Richard Daniels, of Portland, OR . The
group flew to Kansas City, and back from Chicago, travelling by
rental cars through the two states. One person each took part
from Alaska, British Columbia, and Cal., with all the rest coming
from OR.
The Yoder history site in MO. centered on Golden City, MO in Dade
County, northwest of Springfield, where Elias Yoder's sons and
daughter, Jonathan Samuel Yoder (YR12a331), Levi David Yoder (YR12a333)
and Mary Schwartz (YR12a336) as well as Elias's younger brother
Asa Yoder (YR12a39), had moved from Illinois to farm in the early
1870's. They had all moved west to Clackamas County, OR, between
1887 and 1889. The tour visited the Kistler Greenwood Cemetery
near Golden City where four children from the families of Jonathan
S., Levi and Asa Yoder were buried. Three of the children died
within a 23- day period in the summer of 1875. Eleven of the visitors
were descendants of Jonathan S. Yoder and the other four were
descendants of Levi David Yoder.
During three days in Bloomington, McLean County, IL, the group
attended morning worship May 21st at the nearby North Danvers
Mennonite Church which grew out of the Rock Creek Amish congregation
founded by bishop Jonathan Yoder in 1851. Steve Estes, archivist
for the Illinois Mennonite museum at Metamora, IL, was guest preacher
speaking on "Jesus and Jonathan." After church the tour
met a new cousin descended from Leah Yoder Sharp (YR12a31), and
also met retired medical missionary, Dr. Merle Schwartz, whose
grandmother, Elizabeth Frey Schwartzentruber was a sister to the
wives of Jonathan S., Levi, and Asa Yoder, making him a cousin
to all the visitors.
The group visited the Lantz cemetery in Dry Grove Township, and
the North Danvers and Stouts Grove cemeteries in Danvers Township,
where numbers of ancestors and relatives were buried. May 22nd,
the tour visited the IL. Mennonite historical and genealogical
center at Metamora, gathering new information on the family history,
and seeing the excellent museum of nineteenth century IL. farm
life. Lucia Shuebel and her daughter Diana Kindall of OR. presented
the archives with a framed handicrafted motto made by Mahala Yoder
(YR12a334) whose 1870-76 diary as a young adult invalid in IL.
has become a valuable historical resource. A final stop occurred
at the McLean County Museum of History in Bloomington.-
--Report submitted by Jim Yoder, the token Canadian on the tour
************************************************************
YNL LINKS INTERNATIONAL FREINDS
Joachim Langer, writing from near the Baltic Sea, recently asked
the YNL to help locate Bill Yoder, a former correspondent in Eastern
Europe and friend of his family. We put out the word on the Yoder
listserver and with a few days had the following reply:
"Dear Chris, Yesterday we've found a fax coming in by Bill
Yoder. A friend of his family has read the Yoder-newsletter 20mls
away from Chicago, remembered Bill's address, informed him - and
so we got his reaction. Thank you very much - regards from the
Baltic Sea, Jochen"
************************************************************
Who was Barbara Joder m. 1/10/1837 to Kaspar Hofert who d. 1857
Wayne Co, Oh. Barbara d. 1904 in Belvidere, Tn? Write the YNL.
***********************************************************
Read "EZRA YODER, TRAVELING PREACHER" By Mabel
Brunk, appearing in the Oct. 2000 issue of "Mennonite Family
History Magazine"
************************************************************
IMAGE OF L. T. Yoder Confectioner
Advertising Card

Lorenzo Thomas Yoder
(OY42413)
(5/13/1847-2/20/1926)
************************************************************JONATHAN YODER (YA4) CONFIRMED!In YNL 28 we presented Alsatian Joder research by Jean and
Rene
Huckel and tried to connect these records to known American
immigrants. One of these Alsatians was "Jean Joder"
born 1795, who
had married in 1822 Marie Conrad ast Pfastatt. We speculated that
he may have been Jonathan Yoder who was born 5/11/1795 and
settled in Adams Co., In. His wife's name was known to be Mary
Schmucker. Thanks to Carl R. Yoder, Kermit Yoder and Kermit's
nephew Tim Lengerich. Jonathans fourth child Jacob was born
3/26/1828 in Altkirk. Tim lives in Alsace and found the birth
record
for Jacob (recorded as "Jacques") showing a birth on
3/26/1828 to
Jean Joder, age 32, and wife Anne-Marie Conrad, age 26.
************************************************************YOTHER QUADRUPLETSYother (Florida, April 1 1995) 3 boys, 1 girl, Joshua, Christopher,
Eric, Allison (3 boys identical, spontaneous)
************************************************************NATIONAL YODER REUNION JULY 20 AND 21, 2001The Oley Valley Yoder are very busy planning for a wonderful
National Yoder Reunion (Co-sponsored by the YNL). Events start
Friday Jul. 20th we with a Berks County Amish Yoder Tour. The
chartered bus tour will include: a stop to see Widow Barbara Yoder's
Bible located; the John Yoder (YR17) Cemetery; astroll through
the old barn owned by Strong Jacob Yoder (YR14) near Morgantown
as well as the adjoining cemetery will acompany a visit to his
previous home in the Northkill; the Northkill Amish Cemetery and
adjoining properties of Widow Barbara Yoder and Hamburg Christian
Yoder (YR12); the Jacob Yoder Cemetery (see YNL29); and Christian
Yotter/Yoder (YR23) log residence (hope to stop although have
not yet received permission). We will conclude the tour with a
delicious dinner in a private Amish home.
Friday evening we will have a time to relax and visit with each
other at our headquarters, The Inn at Reading/Clarion.
Saturday morning we have a buffet style breakfast planned and
then off on a Oley Valley bus tour. We will be visiting the Hans
and Yost homesteads and the Pleasantville cemetery. The cemetery
contains what is thought to be the oldest Yoder tombstone in the
US. This cemetery is being repaired and restored by the Oley Yoder
Heritage Association. Other stops will be the Lobachsville Mill
and the Keim homestead which is on the National Register. It has
a huge and impressive old cider press. We also will have a Revolutionary
Militia Encampment set up for the tour. Information will be available
on known persons with the surname of Yoder who served in the German
Regiment and in the Militia during the Revolutionary War. If you
have any information of ancestors who served in either regular
of militia capacity, please bring that information along.
Saturday evening we are having a banquet of wonderful mouth-watering
Pennsylvania Dutch foods. We will have German dancers for entertainment
and then more fellowship.
Among the memorabilia we are offering for sale will be golf shirts,
T-shirts, baseball caps and memory books. Brand new to our items
for sale will be a beautiful cotton coverlet depicting several
points of Yoder interest around the Oley Valley. Our cookbooks
are sold out but we are getting ready for a sequel. If you have
a recipe that you would like to contribute, please send it in
or bring it to the reunion. If you have any old family recipes,
handed down through the years, it would be especially nice to
include them.
All YNL subscribers will receive a registration forms soon. If
you want to contribute Revolutionary War information about Yoders
or a recipe for the new cookbook please send them to Phyllis R.
Yoder, 233 Main Street, Shoemakersville, PA 19555-1409 or e-mail
at pry884@aol.com
************************************************************
Some Recent Yoder Contacts:
--Nancy Jane Yoder (Con533), Linda Alderson <paint203@netzero.net>
--Charles S. Yoder (YR17792) Debra Yoder Kell, <lizabet17110@yahoo.com>
--Henry Yater (T) - George Yater, Louisville, Ky.
--Adolphus Yoder (Con32) - Tilitha Waicekauskas, <bigwrnch@fidnet.com>
--Joseph Yotter (YR268123) Wm. Dean Yotter <hawkeye6@pld.com>
--Samuel S Yoder (YR12732) Allen Yoder, <kb5gme@ev1.net>
************************************************************
*********************************************************WALT YODER, BASSIST WITH WOODY HERMAN?Maybe some of our Kansas cousins can fill us in on his family
background? Here is Walt's biography, from John Chilton's "Who's
Who of Jazz", published in 1979: YODER, 'Walt' Walter E.
String-bass Born Hutchinson, Kansas, 21st April 1914
Began playing piano at the age of ten, switched to bass during
teens. Was one of the founder-members of Woody Herman's band in
1936, prior to that had worked with Joe Haymes, Tommy and Jimmy
Dorsey, and with Isham Jones. Left Herman in 1942, settled in
California. Worked regularly with Ben Pollack in the late 1940s
and early 1950s, also worked with Bob Crosby, Russ Morgan, Gordon
Jenkins, etc. Free-lance from home in Studio City [CA] during
1970s.

The YNL will publish Yoder related inquiries or exchanges at no
charge. Please limit as possible to include a full return address.
All inquiries are checked against our records to see if we can
help too. If you receive added info, please share it with the
YNL for our files. Send Queries to: Chris Yoder, 203 Lakeshire
Rd., Battle Creek,Mi 49015 or email at 75757.3371@compuserve.com.

************************************************************
In 1860 Census I found a Catharine Yoder, age 27, born in Pa.
living with my great grandparents, Aaron (YB1399) and Fianna (Crouthamel)
Yoder. Does anyone know who this Catharine is? Could she be the
widow of Aaron's brother Christian? Anna Belle (Yoder) Emery,
14030 N. Lobelia Way, Tuscon, AZ, 85737 ************************************************************
YOUTHER INFO WANTED- Elizabeth Youther , my ggrandmother, m. John
Wesley Penney. Resided in Tn. John Wesley Penney had an Indian
name and 3 fingers. Had brother named Strawberry JOE. Son also
a John Wesley Penney m. Ila Crawley also possibly Indian. Ila
(Crawley) Penney mothers Cindy Rickets m. James T.Crawley (indian?).
g-g-grandpa on Penney side Miles P Penney. My relatives are supposed
to be in history books in the great battles in Tn. Barbara Sheets,
P.O. Box 663 Marinette, Wi . 54143 <sheets49@yahoo.com>

************************************************************
CHARITY YODER (or Yoter), m. Abraham Hart, March 28, 1847 in Ashland
Co., OH. Both b. in PA. Charirty Yoder b. about 1830. She was
17 when married, thus probably lived with her parents in nearby
Wayne Co., OH. In 1860 U.S. Census they showed in DeKalb Co.,
IN., the Newville area. Most of Abraham and Charity (Yoder) Hart's
children remained in the Newville, Hicksville, OH area. I do not
have a deathdate nor location of burial of either Abraham or Charity.
Help please: Gerald L. Kisabeth, 45621 Holmes Drive, Canton OH
48187.

************************************************************
Chris, This is Shannon Yoder and I was wondering if you have information
on my gggrandfather Elmer Yoder. Birth 1913 Helfestien ,Northumberland
Pa. Married Hazel Helk On April 20 1935 and Died in 1942. I need
to know who his parents are? and any other information is greatly
appretiated. Thankyou, Shannon Yoder E mail me direct at: <yodershannon@hotmail.com>

************************************************************

YODERS BEING SEARCHED FOR- If you know the family, please notify
them and let them make the contact.
- - - - - - - - - -
My name is Terry Johnson. I was adopted out at 2 weeks old and
just recently found the name of my birth father...Samuel J Yoder.
He lived in The Dalles, Oregon from aprox 1956 to 1962. Lived
at 700 W 17th, and owned the Dutch Treat's drive in restraunt.
He sold his house to a WD Bowen in 1958. Supposedly he had 4 other
kids, Bobbie or Robert - 50 yrs old now, Carl, Sandy (female),
Peter. His wife was named Betty J Yoder. Terry Johnson, 2133 NW
Harriman, Bend , OR 97701 541-385-5092 email: tlj@transport.com

************************************************************
Where Have All The Roeses Gone? contains names, dates of almost
1000 descendants, and spouses, of John Roes (1821 - 1894) and
Maria/Polly Yoder (1838 - 1872) as well as historical information.
Polly is daughter of Susan Miller and David C. Yoder [YR23374].
This is an update to "Descendants of John and Polly Yoder
Roes 1821 - 1976" [which was by Irene (Roes) Zehr]. Includes
two more generations of Roes's, 165 pages, 8 x 11, soft cover;
cost $15 Canadian ($11 US). plus $8 Candaian ($5 US) postage.
Available March 2001. To pre order send your address, phone number/e-mail
and number of books required to Marion Roes, 555 Brigantine Drive,
Waterloo ON N2K 4A7 or mlroes@sympatico.ca ************************************************************
HOUSE OF YODER NEWS Final construction continues on the House
of Yoder on the grounds of the Spruce Forest Artisan Village (Penn
Alps) in Grantsville, Maryland. Construction goals for the coming
year include finishing the stonework in thebasement, finishing
the first floor and attic floor, and installing the exterior windows.
Approximately $20,000 is needed to complete the construction of
the house. To date over $75,000 has been contributed to the construction
of the house as well as numerous volunteer hours of labor. The
house is at a stage of construction where it can be toured on
a regular basis. Last July 13-15 over 1000 persons visited the
house during the Annual Summer Festival and Quilt Show of Grantsville.
Homemade corn chowder and corn bread were served to many of the
visitors. During the tourist season, the house will likely be
open for tour on most Saturdays. If you happen to be in the area
during the week, feel free to stop in and look at the house. The
root cellar in the basement, the huge walk-in fireplace on the
first floor, the latchkey door, and the smoke house in the attic
are all sources of pride for their authentic construction. The
fifth annual meeting of House of Yoder, Inc. was held November
11. Ken Yoder and Lonnie Yoder shared stories from their respective
family lines. Funds are needed to complete construction of the
interior of the Yoder House. Inquiries or contributions can be
directed to Lonnie Yoder, House of Yoder, 1066 Smith Avenue, Harrisonburg,
VA 22802, ltby@shentel.net or 540-432-6467. The 2001 Summer Festival
and Quilt Show of Grantsville is scheduled for July 12-14, exactly
one week before the Oley Valley National Yoder Reunion in Pennsylvania.
So, on your way to Pennsylvania, stop in and visit the House of
Yoder in Grantsville, Maryland!***
************************************************************

Lukas Coleman Yoder was the first baby born in the Hickory
area in 2001. He was born at Catawba Memorial Hospital at 9:33
a.m. to Kevin and Amy Yoder. Lukas is the grandson of "Yoders
of North Carolina" President Bill Yoder.
Amy Yoder had been having contractions for several days, her husband,
Newton Fire Chief Kevin Yoder said. Just after 6 a.m. Monday,
the Yoders arrived at the hospital. "As soon as we came in
they said, 'We don't have a New Year's baby yet, we'd better hurry,'"
Amy Yoder said. At 8 lbs, 3 ounces, Coleman was a bit larger than
expected, but very healthy. (with permission--Hickory Daily Record)

************************************************************

YOTHERS FAMILY CELEBRATES ITS 76TH ANNUAL REUNIONThe 76th Yothers Family Reunion was held on Sunday, June 4
with 23 people present at the Haycock Mennonite Church, Quakerstown.
The oldest member present was Naomi Yothers, Souderton, age 95.
The youngest were the twin sons of Mr. and Mrs. Chad Benner of
Sellersville, Ryan andGabriel Benner, age two-and-a-half.
The traditional guessing game winners were Dorothy and David Miller,
Quakerstown, and I. Erwin Yothers Jr., Perkasie.
Garrett Benner, Sellersville, asked the blessing before the 5
pm meal.
Hans Joder (John Yoder) was the pioneer ancestor of the family
and was born in Germany about 1680. He purchased 99 acres in Lower
Milford Township (then known as Great Swamp) from Joseph Krowden
of Trevose in 1720 for 15 pounds.
The Yoders were Mennonites and donated the land to the Saucon
meeting House, which was erected around 1738. many of the Yoder
descendants are buried there.
Hans Yoder's grandson Jacob Yoder changed his name to Yothers
andall of the Bucks County Yothers are his descendants. Jacob
Yothers and his wife Barbara (Fretz) Yothers are buried in the
Doylestown Mennonite Cemetery.
Officers for the reunion are John M. Hershberger, president, Lavern
Benner, vice president, and Alvena Hunsberger, secretary- treasurer.
All are from Perkasie.
The next reunion will be the first Sunday of June 2001 at the
same place.

DEATH OF CARL MILLER YODERS Yoders family historian Carl Miller Yoders, M234341, of Flemington,
NJ, died, Jan. 8, 2001. Carl was a rare article - a genuine patriot
and hero. He enlisted in the US Army in October 1940 and was assigned
to the "President's Own" Honor Guard of the 12th Infantry
at Arlington National Cemetery. As war clouds gathered, he was
assigned to the 4th Infantry Division and sent to England to prepare
for the invasion of Europe. On the morning of 6 June 1944 Carl
stormed ashore at Utah Beach, Normandy, France and pressed inland
as the leader of a heavy machine gun unit. On 14 June he was severely
wounded by shrapnel. He spent several months in Army hospitals
in England and 7 months in Walter Reed Army Hospital near Washington,
DC. Carl was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, the Bronze Star
Medal for meritorious achievements in ground operations against
the enemy, and the Military Order of the Purple Heart. He was
honorably discharged with disability on 9 June 1945. Carl was
active in a number of military organizations. In 1984 he was granted
the Legion of Honor Award. In June 1994 at the D-Day 50th Anniversary
of the Battle of Normandy, he was awarded the French Medal (Medaille
du Jubile). During May 1999, NJ Governor Christine Todd Whitman
awarded Carl the State of New Jersey's "Distinguished Service
Medal", the State's highest military award (See YNL 34)
Following his military service, his responsibilties included that
of Sanitation Superintendent for Ewing Township, Mercer County,
NJ from 1954 to 1986. Carl was a member of the Philadelphia -
Continental Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution. Carl with
the able assistance of his wife, Mary Alice, authored "The
`Yoders' of Southwest, PA & The `Yoders' of Waynesburg, PA."
This volume is a key part of YODERS history. Carl is survived
by his wife of 58 years, Mary Alice Foote Suydam; his son, Carl
James YODERS of West Trenton, NJ; and a granddaughter, Mrs. Kathleen
Joy (YODERS) DEY. ----Don Honeywell

HERITAGE FAMILIY 2000-GLAYDE YODER
Sidney, Montana honored Glayde Yoder and his family as "Heritage
Family 2000" at their June 2000 "Heritage Day Celebration".
Mr. Yoder (son of Benjamin J. Yoder (YR174252) and Ollie Plank)
clebrated his 101st birthday on Jul. 5, 2000. He was born on 1899
in Garden City, Mo. and had lived in Sidney since 1928. He passed
away later last fall ---- Thanks to James Yoder, Richmond, BC

************************************************************
ORDER THE YODERS OF NC BOOK The History of the Yoder Family in
North Carolina by Dr. Fred Roy Yoder has been reprinted and is
available once more!! Funds raised will be used to restore old
Yoder gravestones and up-keep of cemeteries at Churches significant
to the Yoder Family and the ancestors of the Author. Price is
$25 (postage included). Send checks to : "Yoder Memorial
Fund" at: Yoder Family in North Carolina, c/o: Bill Yoder,
2707 Zion Church Rd. Hickory, NC 28602

************************************************************

NC YODERS UPDATE PROJECT CONTINUES!!!
This multi-year project aims to bring the descendants of Conrad
Yoder up to date and add lines from all over the nation. Neal
D. Wilfong, NC Yoder Family Secretary, is leading the charge on
this effort. He needs the help of all Conrad family members to
assemble current information. If you have information to share,
contact Neal at: 310 Cook Road; Cleveland, N.C.; 27013 email:
<Ndwilfongoptiker@aol.com>

************************************************************
YODER HERITAGE VIDEO
Almost 150 copies distributed!! Virgil Yoder's slide show and
its inspiring story of our Yoder Heritage in Europe and the U.S.
has been a centerpiece at national Yoder gatherings since 1994.
Hold your own Yoder family reunion, large or small, anyplace around
the world and make the video the cornerstone for your program.
Get your own copy of this family treasure for $25 (post paid).
Order from Virgil E. Yoder, 110 Northumberland Rd., Irwin, Pa.
15642. If you have any questions, write Virgil at: VEYoder@aol.com
.